Derogatory remarks about Shastri in Peepli Live come under flak

Mohan Singh Saini and Brijmohan Sharma have written to the CBFC chairperson Sharmila Tagore, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Aamir Khan Productions demanding that the derogatory dialogue be deleted.

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PTI

Mumbai

August 17, 2010

UPDATED: August 20, 2010 18:12 IST

Two advisory panel members of the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) have taken objection to a dialogue in Peepli Live, saying it was a derogatory reference to late prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Mohan Singh Saini and Brijmohan Sharma have written to the CBFC chairperson Sharmila Tagore, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Aamir Khan Productions demanding that the derogatory dialogue be deleted.

Saini told PTI that they have sought an apology from producer Aamir Khan. According to them, the film was certified by the examination committee comprising four advisory panel members and one CBFC officer and he and Sharma were not part of it.

He said in one scene, a district magistrate of Peepli is asked to donate a hand pump to the affected farmer. There is a dialogue like "Ek Lal Bahadur de do".

"This is a derogatory and direct insult to former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri who was one of the most honest politician India ever had," Saini said.

In a letter to Aamir, Saini said that the demeaning portrayal is a clear reflection of his lack of sensitivity and was a deliberate slander by the actors, producer and director involved.

"In the garb of political satire, you have insulted a great personality," he added.

Saini said if Khan does not delete the dialogue from the film, he and Sharma would sit on a hunger strike near Shastri's statue at Regal in South Mumbai.

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